EDFL 2018: Craigieburn forward Dean Limbach headed to tribunal after being charged with striking

CRAIGIEBURN is sweating on the outcome of a striking charge against one of its most important players which could rule him out for two crucial games.

CRAIGIEBURN is sweating on the outcome of a striking charge against star forward Dean Limbach.

The club’s marquee recruit was reported during the third quarter of the Eagles’ Essendon District Football League fixture with rival Jacana on Saturday.

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Limbach rejected a set penalty of two weeks and will front the tribunal on Tuesday night.

If the former Richmond-listed AFL player is found guilty, he has the option of taking his case to the EDFL’s appeals board.

“Just very disappointed,” Craigieburn coach Peter Bugden said.

“Dean is a clear ball player, a former listed AFL player, played VFL for Richmond and has never been reported in 23 years of football, including the top level.

Dean Limbach marks for one of his former clubs Montmorency.

“We are hopeful that common sense prevails and the benefit of doubt is given to Dean.

“No player was injured in the incident.”

Third-placed Craigieburn will meet second-placed Tullamarine at D.S Aitken Reserve on Saturday and Limbach’s absence would be a major hurdle to his side’s hopes of victory if he is suspended.

The 31-year-old has 65 goals from 11 Division 1 games in 2018 — an average of almost six a match — and has kicked six bags of seven or more this season, with four of them coming from his past five outings.

Craigieburn coach Peter Bugden has called for common sense to prevail at the tribunal.

He bagged seven against winless Jacana at the weekend as the Eagles powered to a percentage-boosting 114-point victory, 20.20 (140) to 4.2 (26).

Limbach contributed five majors in Craigieburn’s three-point loss to Tullamarine in Round 4.

While the Eagles focused their recruiting efforts on talented young players over the off-season after being relegated from Premier Division, Limbach was the club’s prized signing.

“He’s an absolute gun forward,” Craigieburn football manager Lance Whitnall said earlier this year.

“He’s played in multiple leagues at a high level, kicked bags of goals and I think he’s hit the ton twice in his career.

“To have Dean down there, it’s going to be a key focal point for us.”

Limbach spent two years on Richmond’s list after being snapped up with pick 52 in the 2004 national draft, but he failed to make an appearance at the elite level.